Sometimes darkness of night is not sufficient—for some, the experience must include darkness that can be felt; for some, darkness almost destroys them, or what is precious to them, before they hear.

In a difficult period of Israel’s history, Moses contended with Pharaoh for Jewish release—men, women, children and livestock to go to a place where they could worship God. Pharaoh bargained, avoiding the full request—all!  As God pursued, darkness dominated Pharaoh’s mind and it was Darkness that did the speaking for him; but when all was said and done, darkness did not survive the contest.

This victory over darkness belongs to us! We must see ourselves in it. On the most basic level—in the back and forth ploy to compromise—lay aside, leave behind, do not rationalize concerning or negotiate in the ‘real world’ or relinquish vision for time or pressures. Instead, we remember the Word of the Lord prevails over darkness. Darkness speaks, but the Life of God’s Word speaks more so. In the daily back and forth of normal, we guard against being drawn into the practice of darkness—keep watch over where your eyes and mind go. Light begets light; darkness begets darkness.

Moses commanded Darkness by the word of the Lord: “ ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven’ and at his word, the only light in Egypt was in the region known as Goshen where the Jews lived! Today, we command darkness the same way, ‘stretch out your hand.’ Anything other than God’s plan has potential to transport you not just to darkness, but to darkness that can be felt—the strength of it will break you. Change that. Don’t harden. Stretch out your hand toward heaven—you break darkness. Now, gather your possessions and go!

Amen.

Exodus 10:21
Exodus 11
Exodus 8:22 & 9:26

The seventh month on the Jewish calendar is Tishrei. There are thirty days in the month of Tishrei, thirteen of which are Jewish holidays with special religious significance. Of the thirteen, Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) have greatest importance and are known as the “High Holidays.”

In this Jewish holiday season the word that should come to mind is remembrance. Concerning the aftermath of a nation’s disobedience and resulting captivity, Zechariah prophesied: Thus says the Lord of Hosts, “So again in these days I am determined to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah, do not fear” (Zechariah 8:15, NKJV).

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
Father, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, asking You to forgive anything that stands between You and Your people. I also “remember” my own days of difficulty, days when my ways were stout against You but You determined all along that my seed would be prosperous and the vine growing from me would be fruitful; that my ground would increase and the heavens over me would drop the freshness of morning dew on my life. Therefore, for me and my children every curse has become blessing. “Today is not as the former days, for the seed shall be prosperous, do not fear, let your hands be strong!” (Zechariah 8:12-15)

Amen.

Zechariah 15
Zechariah 15:12-15

As Christians we have the Spirit of God – God’s own Spirit, living inside of us and teaching us through our human spirit to understand spiritual things and discern between what is real and what is not. Because of this supernatural endowment, we are distinguished from those without the Spirit—we have hope, know truth and recognize God’s leading. We are blessed with spiritual understanding beyond even that of those taught by Jesus—the Spirit had not yet been given until He ascended, leaving His disciples with a critical mandate to wait in Jerusalem to receive “the promise of the Father.” Without the Spirit, revelation is veiled; without the Spirit, covenant relationship is more religious than spiritual, more like a good story than reality.

“While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.” Luke 9:43-45, NLT

Applied to our lives, revelation of God’s leading ‘by the Spirit’ changes so much as we are empowered to do more from eternity’s perspective, a benefit for those around us as well as for us personally. Making the application, you rise above circumstances with insight for solutions. Your limitation comes with not knowing this truth; or knowing, living as though it were not so.

Amen.

Luke 9

These are days of judgment. In the context of the Days of Awe, a ten-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on the Hebrew calendar, there is judgment involved in evaluating one’s relationship with both God and man. Since judgment exposes sin and provides for its removal, sin’s ability to usurp blessing and perpetuate curse is also removed. Zechariah chapter eight provides a glimpse of God’s plan for the future once judgment is past. Israel is the subject of the passage; after judgment, she can expect God’s presence to be restored to her.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ ‘Let your hands be strong, you who have been hearing in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets… For before these days there were no wages for man nor any hire for beast; There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in… But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘ For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these. And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands me strong.’ ” (Zechariah 8:9-13, NKJV)

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Father, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem–peace for her borders and peace at her gates. Today I judge myself according to the biblical standard, asking the Holy Spirit to direct me. I remove the influences that grieve the Lord and invite the presence of Almighty God. My expectation therefore is that my seed shall be prosperous, my life fruitful, my labor productive and producing increase and the blessing of heaven all around me.

Amen.

Zechariah 8:9-11

To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him. (Mark 9:12-13, NIV)

Christians believe Elijah “already come” is John the Baptist who came “in the spirit and power” of Elijah. Many agree that the spirit of Elijah is even now among us—that as God’s end-time people, we are carriers of that same spirit and power, likened unto the voice of Elijah and John calling for the restoration of all things.

In John’s ministry we hear the voice of restoration which evil men sought to destroy so they could do “as they wished.” Jesus came and again man did “as he wished” but this time the sinless Son of Man restored to God a people whose very lives prophesy!

We prophesy concerning this restoration, focusing upon possibilities originally delivered to Adam. From that perspective we declare God’s original intent rather than rehearsing man’s choices. The renewed mind is attracted upward – to things above. (Colossians 3:1-3).

Therefore, in prayer declare:
I declare true restoration for my family and nation. I set my affections and focus upon things above–declaring Godly inspiration for my home and for the leaders of my nation. I establish truth as the measure, and invite the “spirit and power of Elijah” to come and reside within the borders of my authority, in my home and in my nation.

Amen – so be it!

Mark 9: 12-13
Colossians 1:1-3

Yesterday at sunset, the Jewish fall feast days began with the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah. Today is the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month on the Jewish calendar.

And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy
convocation, you shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing of
trumpets. (Numbers 29:1)

In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest,
a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. (Leviticus 23:24)

Trumpets are blown throughout this Jewish feast day, marking the beginning of the Jewish New Year with a day of memorial, a day of holy convocation, a day of Sabbath-rest. It is a time to look carefully at mistakes of the year past, taking action to make changes correcting those mistakes for the future. The changes that begin today continue for ten days known as the Days of Awe (Heb. Yamin Noraim) or the days of repentance. Obviously, the entire world is affected by the richness of this season—the Word of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem, and many respond and are blessed. Thank God!

We are encouraged along with Israel in this glorious season. Our lives are marked by daily repentance, a reflection of the awe and reverence with which we esteem the Lord. Therefore in this glorious time we declare with the psalmist, The name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem! (Psalm 102:21)

Let’s Pray:
Father, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and add our blessing to Your blessing upon Your people, Israel. Lord, we delight ourselves in You, delighting in the delight You have for this season. We ask that You extend Your right hand over Israel and the Jewish people everywhere—bare Your arm in their behalf, Lord, and deliver them from every threat.

Amen.

Numbers 29, verse 1
Leviticus 23, verse 24
Isaiah 2:3
Psalm 102:21